Foster care is intended to provide temporary care for children and youth who have been removed from their family of origin either voluntarily or involuntarily. We also may be serving youth who come to us from the Juvenile Justice System. Reasons for the removal might include abuse, neglect, or the family’s inability to care for the child at this point in time through no fault of their own. Our primary goal is to reunify the youth with his or her family or a relative.

This may mean that the family has to make some difficult decisions and or positive changes to ensure the custody holding agency, that the family of origin can provide a safe and stable home.

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What exactly is foster care ?

Therapeutic foster care comes into play for youth who have experienced extreme trauma, abuse or neglect and require specialized treatment programs and counseling. They many times exhibit more challenging emotional and behavioral problems.

Most youth referred to NYAP are in need of therapeutic care. Our experienced staff is there for you to ensure you are prepared to provide the care and support these children and youth with complex issues need. We’re there to support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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What is "therapeutic foster care" ?

It’s a team effort. We take the time to listen to you and will do what is best for the foster youth, for you and your family. We carefully review and match youth to foster parents based on our many conversations about your personal preferences, the age of the child and other children in your home, cultural identity, the child’s individual needs and more. We let you tell us what type of youth you feel would best fit in with your family.

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Do you choose the youth for me ?

Yes. These children and youth have extraordinary conditions which require special care and attention. We work closely with you to ensure you have the knowledge and support you need to care for and provide a safe and loving home for these special children.

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Does NYAP serve medically fragile children and youth ?

Foster families receive a tax free pre-set reimbursement to pay for the needs and basic expenses of the youth. Payments are made twice monthly via direct deposit and are based on the number of days the foster youth was in care. In most cases, the child’s health insurance is taken care of through the Medicaid program. Reimbursement for other expenses is determined on a case-by-case basis.

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Am I financially responsible for the youth's care ?

In most cases, NYAP staff will begin working with a youth’s family immediately with the primary goal of preparing the family for their youth’s return home and to help them resolve the issues and concerns that led to the child being removed from their home in the first place.<p>Every situation and every family is different. We work with the individual needs of each family, including our foster families and the youth. The foster family, NYAP staff, the birth family and the custody holding agency caseworker will determine how much interaction and involvement will take place to ensure it is safe and as comfortable as possible for everyone.

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Do I have to meet with the birth parents or family of origin ?

We strongly believe, that when at all possible, it is best to keep the youth in the community they call home and their own school. However, the primary focus is on the health and well-being of the youth. If it is necessary, they will need to change schools to the district where you live.

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Do they have to change schools ?

To become a foster parent, you will meet with someone on our staff who will walk you through the process of gathering the state required documentation, schedule you for foster parenting training classes, conduct your family assessments or “home study” and work with you each step of the way in becoming a licensed foster parent.

The process to become a foster parent is a series of steps designed to allow us to get to know you, your family, your motivation to become a foster parent and to help us determine the type of youth that would best fit into your family dynamic.

We’d love to hear from you and to answer all your questions about the challenges and rewards of foster parenting. To get things started or to simply ask us more questions about foster parenting, just give us a call. We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (877) NYAP-CAN (1.877.692.7226).

No clients shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Clients needing accommodations for a disability and/or clients with special communications needs, such as those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or in need of an interpreter should make their request for accommodation at the time of admission into a NYAP program. To view our Auxiliary Aid Plan for Persons with Disabilities, click here